Hand operated marking device employing printer with movable printhead and retractable shutter

Abstract

A hand operated marking device for printing upon print media, the marking device comprising: a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media; a printer which is located within the first housing and comprising a movable printhead configured to print ink; a selector arrangement operatively mounted to the second housing and enabling selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead; and a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings and which moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media, wherein the first housing defines an opening in which the printhead can move, and the marking device further comprises a retractable shutter which is operatively connected to move with the printhead and cover the opening when the marking device is not in use.

1. A hand operated marking device for printing upon print media, the marking device comprising:
 a pair of housings which are movably interconnected together so that a first one of the housings is adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to compression of the housings between a hand and the print media; 
 a printer which is located within the first housing and comprising a movable printhead configured to print ink; 
 
     a selector arrangement operatively mounted to the second housing and enabling selection of an indicia, from a plurality of possible indicia, to be printed by the printhead; and 
     a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings and which moves the printhead along the print media responsive to the compression of the housings so that the selected indicia is printed upon the print media, wherein 
     the first housing defines an opening in which the printhead can move, and 
     the marking device further comprises a retractable shutter which is operatively connected to move with the printhead and cover the opening when the marking device is not in use. 
   
   
     2. A hand operated marking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printer further comprises a replaceable ink cartridge, the replaceable ink cartridge being releasably mounted within the first housing. 
   
   
     3. A hand operated marking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the selector arrangement comprises a linear slide switch or a rotary switch. 
   
   
     4. A hand operated marking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanism is a mechanical mechanism comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted at one end to the second housing and at the other end to the printhead. 
   
   
     5. A hand operated marking device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the moving mechanism further comprises an extension return spring extending between the other end of the arms and the second housing. 
   
   
     6. A hand operated marking device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first housing is provided with an aperture in a wall thereof, and the replaceable ink cartridge is adapted to be slidably coupled with the ink connector via the aperture.